The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

“You play volleyball?”

“Only with my family. I can’t wear contacts and the glasses—they don’t help.”

“Right. Your microscope glasses.”

My eyes widened as I realized what I’d just said. “Oh, Molly, I didn’t mean—”

Shrugging, she grinned. “They do look like microscopes, but my mom won’t let me get new ones. They’re not cost-effective.”

“Whatever. They save your social graces,” I cut in. Again not thinking. “Oh my God, I’m so sorr—”

This time she laughed whole-heartedly. “You’re not what the rumors say you are.”

“That I’m a stone cold bitch.”

“Yeah, that. And that you screwed Tray Evans.”

“Where?” Could I not think before I talked? What was wrong with me?

She listed them off with her fingers, “In the school parking lot, in the parking lot at the diner, at one of his parties, at Rickets’ House, and in his car.”

“Oh. I’ve been busy.”

She giggled, ducking her head suddenly.

I looked over and saw Tray staring back, kneeling down beside me.

“What?” I asked.

“Two days,” was all he said.”

I flushed in annoyance. “Yeah. So?”

“You going to be ready in two days?” he demanded. And now I remembered detested him—I still did, no matter how amazing he was in bed.

I snapped testily, “Ask again and I won’t be.”

He smirked. Yep, he was still detestable. “Don’t get all worked up. We had a deal, a business deal. I need to know if you can deliver your end of the deal.”

“I’m ready to go on my end.”

“Whatever.” He stood up. “Saw Jace Lanser leaving town last night. Stopped at the diner for a burger.”

I stood also. “Yeah. So?”

He backed off, taking his own seat across the room, the entire class now listening avidly. “Nothing. The guy’s a loser.”

“Spoken like a true horse’s ass,” I shot back. Jace was family. No one talked bad about my family.

Mandy gasped, “Taryn.”

Jasmine smirked, but there was still a note of fear in her eyes.

“Spoken like a true bitch’s ass,” he retorted, sitting back, looking relaxed and arrogant.

“One that you’re hot for,” I said coolly, seeing him draw his breath in at my words. Before he could reply the teacher strode in frantically. “Sorry, class, so sorry I’m late.”

I sat back down and the rest of the class reluctantly turned their attention to the teacher.